Proportioning drink-dispenser



Dec. 29, 1959 H. P. BRIGGS PROPORTIONING DRINK-DISPENSER Fild New. 19,1956 /5 46 f7 LIQUOR hvI F J m Y R N U H HTTOE/YE K PROPORTIONINGDRINKPDISPENSER Huntly P. Briggs, Sun Valley, Calif., assignor toGeneral Controls Co., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication November 19, 1956, Serial No. 622,923 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-76)This invention relates to liquid dispensing systems, a main object ofthe invention being to provide a system for automatically dispendingdrinks of the highball type, each having a preselected alcoholiccontent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of the characterdescribed in the, preceding object whereby the total quantity of liquiddelivered to a receptacle is always the same regardless of its alcoholiccontent; this object being accomplished by the provision ofquantity-selecting means arranged so that as the quantity of either ofthe components of the drink is increased the quantity of the othercomponent is, proportionately decreased.

Another object is to provide individual valves for dispensing the liquidcomponents of a highball, and adjustable time-controlled means foropening each of the valves for a period corresponding to the selectedquantity of liquid to be dispensed through the, valve.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawing, and from theappended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a liquid dispensing system embodyingthis invention; and.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing means for proportionately adjusting thesettings of the electric timers shown in Fig. 1.

In the upper part of Fig. 1, and generally indicated by the numerals 11and 12, are two-identical electromagnetic relays each adapted whenenergized bypassage of current through its respective coil 13. or 14. toeffect, in conventional manner, closing of three pairs. of normally-openswitch contacts indicated in relay 11 by the numerals 15, 16 and 17 andin relay: 12, by numeralslS, 1 9 and 20.

The coil 13 of relay 11, is connected, by wires 21 and 22, in serieswith a normally-open momentarily-operable push-button switch 23, to asource of electrical energy indicated by the sine-curve symbol. Thissymbol appears at numerous places in the drawing and designates a commonsource (preferably) of low-voltage alternating current. One of the pairof switch. contacts 15- is connected by a wire 24 directly to thesource-wire 21, the other of contacts 15 being connected by a wire 25,in which a normally-closed switch 26 is inserted, to the upper terminalof coil 13. Since the lower terminal of this coil is connected to theother source-wire 22, when the relay is energized by closing ofpush-button switch 23 and contacts 15 consequently close, energizationof the relay is maintained through these contacts (and normally-closedswitch 26) so that the relay is held-in electrically and will drop-outonly when switch 26 is opened.

The coil 14 of relay 12 is connected in similar manner to the electricsource by wires 27, 28 and a push-button switch 29; one of the holdingcontacts 18 of this relay being connected to the source by a wire 30,and the other to the upper terminal of the coil by a wire 31 in which isinserted another normally-closed switch 32 the opennited States Patenting of which efiects drop-out of this relay after it has held-in inresponse to momentary actuation of the pushbutton switch 29.

The switch contacts 17 of relay 11 and 20 of relay 12 are connected, inparallel with each other, by wires 33 and 34 respectively to an electricmotor 35 in series with the electric source indicated by the symbol, sothat this motor is energized in response to energization of either ofthe relays. Driven by motor 35 in the direction of the arrow, at slowspeed as through internal gearing, is an arm 36 engageable with aT-bracket 37 to which the movable elements of switches 26 and 32 aresecured.

Movement of bracket 37 (to the right) by the motorarm 36 effects openingof switches 26 and 32 and thereby interruption of the hold-in circuitsof the associated relays 11 and 12 so that the one of the relays throughwhich energization of the motor was initiated drops-out and therebyeffects deenergization of the motor. In other words: after momentaryactuation of push-button switch 23 or 29 the associated relay 11 or 12remains held-in only during the period that the motor-arm 36 then movesfrom a set position into engagement with the bracket 37. As will beexplained hereinafter, it is intended that only one of the switches 23or 29 be actuated at a time.

In Fig. 1 below the relay and motor system just described is anothersuch system; the only diiference between these systems being that in thelower system there is an additional relay cooperable with the motor. Thethree relays 41, 42 and 43 in the lower system are in dividuallycontrollable by push-button switches 44, 45 and 46 and have sets ofswitch contacts 47-49, 5tl-52 and 53-55 respectively. The hold-incontacts 47, 5t) and 53 of the relays are connected to the coils of therelays through normally-closed switches 56, 57 and 58 respectively, andthe relay contacts 49, 52 and 55 are connected, in parallel with eachother, in the energizing circuit of an electric motor 59 which drives(in the direction of the arrow), an, arm 60 engageable with a T- bracket61 to which the movable elements of switches 5658 are secured. Theoperation of this three-relay system is identical with that of thetwo-relay system described above: upon actuation of any one of thepushbutton switches 44-46 the associated relay pulls-in (so that motor59 is then energized) and subsequently dropsout when the switches 5658are opened by the motor.

In the lower part of, Fig. 1 is a liquid delivering system whichcomprises five normally-closed solenoid valves 7175 energization ofwhich is controlled by the middle pair of contacts 16, 19, 48, 51 and54- of relays 11, 12, 41, 42 and. 43 respectively. The terminals ofthese contacts and the energizing circuits of the solenoid valves areindicated respectively by the letters A, B, C, D and E to avoid theshowing of pairs of wires interconnecting these points. When any of thefive relays pullsin, the valve associated with the middle pair ofcontacts of that relay is energized and operated to open position.

Each of the solenoid valves is inserted in a pipe leading to a bottlefrom which liquid can flow by gravity, when the. valve-is opened, to areceptacle or drinking glass 76 over which the lower ends of all of thepipes are positioned. The pipes and bottles associated with valves 7175are indicated respectively by numerals 7881 and 8286. Between each ofthe bottles and pipes is a device 87 which facilitates replacement ofthe bottle when empty and permits air to enter the bottle as the liquidis dispensed. As is indicated by the legends, the bottles 82 and 83contain different liquors, such as bourbon and scotch whiskies, whilethe bottles 34, 85 and 86 contain liquids suitable for mixing with theliquor, such as water, seltzer water and ginger ale.

The diagram of Fig. 2 rangement for proportionately adjusting thetime-settings of the means for effecting drop-out of the relays. This,arrangement comprises a rod 88 having bent-up ends 89 and 90 engageablewith the motor-arms 36 and 60 to determine the position of these armsprior to energization of the motors. The arms 36 and 60 may, forexample, be connected to the respective motors through magnetic clutches91 and 92 arranged so that they are energized concurrently with themotors and then afford a positive driving connection between the motorand the arm. When the magnetic clutches are deenergized (upondropout ofthe controlling relays) the arms 36 and 60 are disengaged from themotors and free to move under the force of their respective bias springs93 and 94 to their stopped positions in engagement with the bent ends 89and 90 of the adjusting rod .88. This rod is mounted for manuallengthwise movementin guides 95 which are arranged to frictionally gripthe rod so that its position is not altered by the impact of arms 36, 60when they are suddenly disengaged from the motors.

It is to be borne in mind that the rod 88 remains stationary during thedrink-dispensing operation, and that its main function is to provide thesimultaneously 'adjustable stops 89, 90 relative to which the arms 36,60 move when their respective motors are energized.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the tips of the motor-arms discloses anillustrative arbe provided for each of the possible combinations of 36,60 cooperate with scales, graduated in seconds, and indicate theapproximate periods that will elapse before i the motors (and magneticclutches 91, 92) are deenergized in response to actuation of therespective relayrelease switches 26, 32 and 57, 58, 59 by the motorarms.

is energized by momentary actuation of the push-button switch 23, thisrelay will pull-in and remain held-in for one second (as indicated inFig. 2 by the setting of arm In the operation of the system if, forexample, relay 11 w v 36) during which period the valve 71, energizedthrough contacts 16 of the relay, will be open so that a predeterminedquantity of liquor will be delivered to receptacle 76 from bottle 83. Inlike manner, if the push-button switch 45 is actuated the valve 74 willopen and remain open for the three-second period indicated by thesetting of arm 60, and a corresponding quantity of liquid from When i iwill be delivered to form the drink; these proportions I being indicatedin Fig. 2 by a double-ended pointer 96 carried by rod 88. As wasmentioned above, means may be provided for preventing the dispensing ofmore than one kind of liquor or mix at a time. Such means may consist ofa mechanical interlock for each of the 1 groups of push-buttons, orelectrical means for preventing concurrent energization of more than onerelay of a group. Push-buttons associated respectively with the liquorand the mix may be pressed at the same time or in sequence. If desired,individual push-buttons may drinks (such as 'Scotch and Soda or Bourbonand Water) and arranged to effect simultaneous energization of thecorresponding relays.

The proportioning means is shown set for dispensing a drink of the usual(1:3) strength or alcoholic content. If a somewhat weaker o'r strongerdrink is desired the rod 88 is moved accordingly to the right or theleft so that the quantitiesof the liquor and mix delivered will be inthe proportions of, say, /2 23% for a weaker drink, or 1 /2 :2 /2 for astronger one. It will be observed that the total quantity of liquiddelivered to the receptacle is the same at all settings of theproportioningmeans.

A stop, indicated at 97, may be provided on bar 88 for preventingaccidental dispensing'of a drink stronger than in the proportion of 2:2;optionally, means may be provided for sounding a warning if theproportioning means is moved beyond that .position. If straight liquoris desired, only the push-button associated with the liquor is pressed.If no liquor is desired, the indicator is moved to the 0:4 position sothat only seltzer water or the like can be dispensed. I

The invention as described above and shown diagrammatically is obviouslysusceptible of modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I intend therefore that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a system for delivering optionally beverages of different proportionsof two ingredient liquids, so as to maintain the total amount of liquidsubstantially the same independently of the proportions: a first valvefor delivering one of the ingredients; a second valve for delivering thesecond of said ingredients; a pair of electrical circuit meansrespectively for controlling the opening of the valves; a pair ofcircuit controllers respectively located in said circuit means, andadapted to'be so operated as to terminate the periods during which saidvalves are open; a pair of movable operators respectively for thecircuit controllers; a pair of electric motors respectively for movingthe operators toward valve-closing positions; a common means forsimultaneously determining the starting positions of said operators topredetermine the ratio of the ingredients; and means responsive to theopening of the valves for energizing the motors and to couple them tothe operators; the adjustment of the starting positions being such thatas the time for moving one operator to valve-closing position isincreased, the time for moving the other operator to its valve-closingposition is correspondingly decreased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

